heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

322 THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
trians, such as still remain entire at Wilberfoss, or,
widened for carriages, at
in modern times
Harewood, and many other parts of the county.
Probably, therefore, the stone was floated in flats and barges down the
Wharfe to its junction with the Ouse, and then towed up the stream to
the "Stanegate landing," which Mr. Davies* tells us existed at the bottom
of Common Hall Lane, close to the Guild House of St. Christopher, now
the Mansion House, and from thence dragged on sledges up Stonegate
to the Minster. For in 1421 there is an entry in the Fabric rolls :f "For
" the carriage of 1 20 tuntygyht of stone from the quarry, at Thievesdale,
" unto the water of Tadcaster, by Robert Hardy, by tuntygt, ^d. ;
and
"by carriage of the same by ship from Tadcaster unto York, by John
" Blackburn, at 6d. each tuntygyht
;
and for sledding 40 tuntyght of
"Bramham stone from the Ouse to the cemetery" (i.e. churchyard round
the Minster) "by John Bell, and others, nd. each tuntyght."
However, the family of Vavasour was increasing in dignity as time
advanced. Sir Robert became high sheriff of Notts and Derby, and
received from King John free warren in Werverdale, or Wharfedale, so that
he might there make a park if he pleased.
His daughter, too, had married
Fulke Fitz-Warin, an eminent baron ;
and his son, Sir John, further increased
his property and position. He obtained free warren in Wodehall,
Sikelinghall, Addingham, and Scarcroft and
;
married Alice, daughter
of Sir John Cockfield, by his wife Nicholaa, daughter and co-heiress of
Jordan de St. Mary, who must have herself been a substantial heiress, for
her son, Sir William, is recorded to have done homage for all lands and
tenements which his mother held of the King.f
It would only be natural that, under such circumstances, the social
position of the family would change, and that they would emancipate
themselves from the condition of vavasour, and become lords of the soil,
instead of mere mesne tenants of the Percies, by enfranchising their
tenures for some lump sum. For though the spirit of feudal tenure
established so intimate a connection between the two parties, that it
could be disposed of by neither without requiring the other's consent, the
of fines to the lord.
vassal's feud could be alienated on payment
Having, however, made the sobriquet by which they had been
known, familiar and respected amongst
all their neighbours, they retained
it as a name, like the Constables, after they ceased to fill the position.
For I find that Sir John is recorded as having given to the abbots and
convent of St. Peter's, Howden, stone from his quarry in Thievesdale ;
indicating, I think, that he now possessed the fee simple of the land,
and could do as he pleased with the soil. And this, I think, is confirmed
by the facts that in 1291, when the nave was commenced, Sir Robert
* Walks about Vork, p. 25. J Yorkshire Ptdigttcs (Forster).
t Brown's History, p. 222. Hallam, vol. i. , p. 130.